The data center as a data hub

The rest of the processes will be moved to the cloud and to colocation zones. The advantages are plain for all to see. This model gives companies the flexibility they need without having to make a large investment in their own real estate, which will soon stand empty anyway as a result of increased cloud usage.

Close to the clouds

Modern hybrid IT architectures rely on optimum networking between all locations. Only in this way can companies distribute workloads efficiently and ensure low-cost data exchange. The distance between the connected resources will play a much more decisive role in the future. The shorter the distances are, the better the data transfer will become. This, in turn, will improve performance. Modern data centers are based on the principle of creating ecosystems that are bustling with cloud providers of all sizes, as well as with financial institutions and carriers. In these data centers, links are facilitated via simple, internal network connections. Moving their own IT infrastructure close to these centers gives companies a competitive edge.

Connectivity is key

The connectivity offering of the data center provider is investigated in detail by companies who are evaluating a data center solution. Are there enough different carriers who can implement their networking requirements cost-effectively? Can they exchange data directly with important cloud providers within the same data center or campus? Can carrier-neutral network solutions be provided? Is peering between various locations possible, for example via the largest Swiss provider – SwissIX? And finally, what are the provider’s areas of in-house expertise? Specialized staff are a must for operating and running the data center but, today, data center providers also need specialists for designing, implementing and operating the network solution. Getting these project experts on board at an early stage pays dividends.

The opportunities offered by the data center in its role as a hub will be key to choosing an external data center in the future. With the current increase in capacity and the entry of the major international cloud providers onto the market, only a few data center providers will still be able to offer their customers an economical and comprehensive connectivity range. It thus makes sense to take a very close look at the connectivity offering when evaluating a new partner.